Fluid operated motor



Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUIDDPERATED MOTOR Columbus R. Sacehi-ni, Euclid, .Cihio, rassignor to The 'Marquette Metal Products, Company,

Cleveland,.0liio,a,corporation of Ohio I Application January 10, 1944, 'Serial'No. 517 634 it is also commercially feasibleto use'it-for a -similar purpose on all types of land vehicles. The motor develops a large torque in relation to its size and weight and -therefore can be installed conveniently in crowded airplane codiepits. Sumcientpower is available eVen-"in un-its of very small size *to operate the wiper blade or blades in high slip stream and against ice accumulation. The efficiency of-the motoris-high, thereby keeping oil consumption at a minimum and the extremely rugged construction and few component parts insure lone continued trouble-free operation and reduce maintenance costs. The motor can be economically manufactured due to the simple geometric configuration of'most of the machined surfaces and, since sub-assemblies can be used, the final assembly is easily and speedily accomplished.

Provision ismade ina novel manner for adjustment .of'the extent of wiper blade sweep both interiorly and exteriorly of the housing and for varying the angular-travel of the wiper blade or blades onopposite sides of the center line of the unit by a simple, easilyjaccessible adjustment i11 teriorly of the housing. The motoralso incorporates means for ,drivingthe power outputshaft to aparked position of the wiper element or blade beyond-the end of the normal st-roke of such element or blade; and the construction enables either of two such parking positions to be used selectively whichever is more convenient or better suited to installation conditions. Also the wiper element orblade is forcibly but impositivelyheld in the selected parked position against likelihood of disturbance by slip stream forces.

An objectofthisinvention is to provide a fluid operated motor incorporating all of the foregoing features and which meets the various practical requirements of aircraft installations and others.

Another object is to provide an improved fluid operated motor. I

A further object is to provide a fluid operated motor incorporating a cantilever spring as a snapact'ion driving means for a valve mechanism.

Still another object is to provide ,a fluid operated motor having ;a rotatable valve yieldably grew strained .inian operating position by a ball and socketdetentmechanism. q

Other objects andadvantages will becomerapparent from .the following zdescription wherein reference is made to the drawings, :in which :Fig; l is :an elevational view of the motjorxof this invention in combination with a Windshield wiper mechanism associated with atypical airplanewindshieldsectionz;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the ,-line 25-2 of Fig. 1 and illustratin a preferred ,arrangem'ent of thes-fiuidssupply conduits; i j x Figs. 3 and '4 are-sectional viewsttaken along the lines 33 and 4-4, respectivelmzof Fig. 2 :inthe direction of the arrows;

Fig. '5 is a fragmentary sectiona1 View taken alongthe line 5- 5 of Fig. 3in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. 6 is a relatively enlarged sectional view taken along the line B-'6 of Fig. 4'in the direction of thearrows; .m:

Fig. 'Z'is aperspec'tive viewof apartof'thevalve mechanism; and V i Fig. 8 is a detail viewillustrating amodification of one feature of the invention.

As will "become apparent'hereinafter, the motor operates properly in any turned position, hence terms such as front, rear, upward, and downward are not to be consideredrestric'tive in'any sense. Referring to the drawings, an integral tubular projection or bushing lll of a generallyhollow body' member "I l for the motor is-shown in Fig. l as passing' through an openingiina framework 12' of adjacent typical ii'r-indshield pahels [Al -Elie bushing Ill ispreferably castex'tra long and then machined to the length'required by the character o'f anyparticularinstallation. {-Apowe'r take off shaft 15 rotatablysupported by the bushing 10 .may receive on asplin'ed outer end' portion' a wiper blade drivearm l 5 held infan adjusted turnedposition by cooperating splines and secured against outward axial movement by-a-nut is threaded on the end of the shaft r5. "The motor is'p'reierably held in mounted position by suitable studs or mounting bolts Knot shown) passing into or through the framework 12 and screwed into the body H, as onopposite sides of the bushing illl.

3 Although a single drive arm l -6 is shown in Fig. 1,

l9 and 20 are pressed respectively into aligned connects opposing piston head portions 28 and 29 which are slidably receivedwithin the sleeves I9 and 20, respectively. Piston chambers .23 and 21 are thus formed within the sleeves l9 and 20 will, at cessation of operation of the mechanism,

between the outer faces of the head portions 281 and 29 and the plugs 2| and 22, respectively. The lower surface of the rack portion 26 is curved complementary to the inner surfaces of the sleeves |9 and and said rack portion has a flattened rear surface provided with a transverse groove33, extending vertically as shown in Fig. 2, in which groove 2. channel-shaped trip member'or saddle 30 (Figs. 3 and 5) may be rigidly secured as by a single screw 3|. The opposing legs of the saddle 30 fit snugly against the side walls of the groove 33, thereby to prevent turning of the saddle 30 with respect to the piston 25. Said legs at their'upper ends have respective rearwardly extending projections or arms 32(1and32b. w r

A sealing nut 34 having a recess in which is received a suitable" annular packing'35 surrounds the shaft I5 and is threaded into a counterbore atthe inner end of the opening through the bushing l0. Axial movement of the shaft |5 rearwardly of the body II is prevented by interengagement of an annular shoulder 31, defined by an enlarged portion 36 of the shaft,-and a washer 38 interposed between the nut 34 and the shoulder 31. Axial movement 'of the shaft 15 forwardly of the body II (to the left, Fig. 3) is prevented by a: pinion 39 received on a reduced, non-circular (e. g. squared) inner end-portion of the shaft 5 and bearing together'with the end 'of the shaft l5 against the front surface of the bight portion 30a of the saddle 30. Rotation of the washer'38 may be prevented by forming the washer'of a suitable bearing metalsuch as bronze so that alow-friction bearing-surface with the shoulderi31 is provided, the shaft l 5 being formed preferably of bronze or stainless steel, whereas the bearing surface,-indicatedat 38a, between the washer 38 and the body l I has a much higher coemcient of frictionparticularlyif the body I I is of cast aluminum or aluminum alloy. The tendency ofthe' washer 38 to turn may also be reduced, for example; by roughening the abut ting surfaces at 38a. The pinion 39is in constant mesh with the teeth of the rack 26 and is thus driven upon reciprocation of the piston to effectoscillating motion of the shaft I5.

A- valve assembly for the motor comprises a valve cylinder 40 rotatably received within a sleeve 4| pressed into a complementary socket or bore 4la intersectingthe innerface of the front wall of the body II. The front end portion of the sleeve 4| has an enlarged internal diameter as indicated at Mo to provide clearance for a tool 'used to grind accurately the inner surface of the sleeve 4| after the sleeve has been pressed into place, and is provided also at its front end with a longitudinal slot MD to permit fluid trapped between the cylinder 40 and the front wall of the body to escape into the interio of the body through a passage 43 communicating the forward end of the bore 4|a with a lowpressure space of the body I.

Excessive axial movement of the valve cylinder 46 is prevented by abutment of the rear end face thereof against a cover plate 44 (see Figs. 3 and 4) secured to the body joint 44a as by screws 45.

In order to insure that the valve cylinder 40 ll'at a s uitajble gasketed always occupy one of two relatively reversed positions and not some position between those two,

whereby upon resumption of supply of working 7 pressure the motor will be certain to operate, a

novel snap action drive mechanism is provided between "the piston 2 5 and the valve cylinder. Thedriving connection between the piston 25 and the valve cylinder 40 comprises a flat'cantilever spring 46 having its lowermost end secured within a diametrical slot in a reduced rear end portion of the cylinder 40, as by a rivet'48, and extending upwardly freely through an open longitudinal slot 4|c (Fig. 5) in the sleeve 4|. As will become apparent hereinafter, engagement of the spring 46 with the edges of the slot, 4| 0 pre-.

vents excessive rotary movement of the cylinder 40. The free portion of thespring 46 is preferably of uniform thickness but .of gradually reduced-width and terminates in a widened-portion or lip a disposed between the arms 32a and 32b of the saddle so. a i

The sleeve 4| has diametrically opposed ports 49 and 50 which, as shown for instance in Fig. 2, open respectively into chambers 5| and 52 defined by the inner wall surface of thesleeve 4| and opposed chordal slots 54 (Fig. 7) in the cylinder 4D,"and also has diametrically opposed ports; 55 and 56 displacedninetydegrees from theports 49 and 50 and which open alternately intoathe chambers 5| and 52 dependingupon the turned position of the valve cylinder 40. l Q

As shown in Figs. ,4, 6 and 7, a tubular plunger 58 reciprocably received within a bore 59 in aside jection or ball 58a formed integrally with. and

extending outwardly from the closed inner end of the plunger 58. As shown the inner ball supporting end of the plunger 58 is chamfered adjae. cent the ball formation and said end is received within a complementary openingfioin thesleeve 4|. Aportion of the ball extendsthrough the opening 60 and is normallyubiased by .a coiled compression spring 6t alternately. into spaced, semi-cylindrical, longitudinal grooves-62 and .64. formed in the surface of the froritend portioniofthe cylinder 4|l and' defining therebetween .an elongated rib or ridge 63 spaced. from the sleeve 4|. 7 .It should be noted that provisionis-made for slight axial movement of the cylinder 40. by

forming the slots 54 slightly wider than the associated parts and by having the ballformation 58a cooperate with the elongated grooves. Hand 64 instead of spherical recesses. The spring 6|. fits freely within the tubular plunger 58v and has itsopposite ends bearing respectively against the inner end wall of the plunger 58 and the inner face of an adjusting; screw 65 threaded into the outer end portion of the bore 59.

As will become apparent hereinafter, merelyj.

turning the screw 65 to vary thecompression of the spring 6| adjusts the angular travel of the. wiper blade drive arm l6. An opening 51 maybe provided in the inner end wall of the; plunger 58 to prevent entrapment of operating fiuid or-air;

within the bore :59. Trappedfiuid which escapes throughtheiport 151 enters an elongated groove 62 ordfilaas the erase 'Jnay beandis .discharged throughlthe slotjih port A3 and into the housing chamber of the piston betweentheendsofsaid piston.

:Andnlet :port :68 for high :pressure operating fluid communicates with :the port 56 through a passageififl. Passages iilaand llzextend from the portswAS and 5.0, respectively, to thepiston chambers 23.;and51, respectively. It should benoted that fluid may pass from the passages '10 and'll between'the plug-21 and the sleeve 19 i and betweenthesplug 22-and the sleeve 20, respectively, intothe piston chambers, thus obviating the necessity forithewforming of ports in the sleeves. Azcut-away portion"12 ofthe front wall of the body 1L1 :above the port '55 permits :iluid'to flow fromutherport55 into the interior of theibody 1| where it serves to lubricate the moving parts. An

exhaust or discharge passage 14, Figs. 2 and 4, extends vfrom th :motor interior (at the region in :which 1 the sleeve 41 protrudes 'rearwardly from its guide bore) to an outletport I5.

' tEachsof the cylinder head plugs 21 and 22 is provided" *a central, pipe-threaded opening and,.=a;s ishown, .a socketheaded plug 6 effectively seals'theopening in the =plu i:2i,-whereas a tube coupling: |8 screwed into the central opening in the 1plugri22 is connected'toa fluid supplyconduit "I9 leading toamain supply conduit 86 throu h a suitabletwmwayvalve '81. The other outlet port of the lvalveu81 is. connected through a conduit 82 andta tube :coupling 84 secured in the inlet :port 66. When the valve 8| is in the position shown bysolidlines in Fig. 2,:fluid may flow from the conduit 80 through the valve 8| and the conduit 82 to the inlet port 68 for normal operation of the motor; and, when the valve is in the turned position indicated by the broken lines, fluid may flow from the conduit 80 through the valve 8| and conduit 19 directly to the piston chamber 21 for wiper blade parking as will be more fully described later.

Additional structural features of the motor and cooperative relation of the parts are explained in the following description of operation: With the piston 25 and valve cylinder 40 in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the two-way valve 8| in the solid line position, high pressure fluid in the main supply conduit 80 passes through the valve 8 I, the conduit 82, the coupling 84, the port 68, the passage 69, the port 56, the valve chamber 52, the port 50, and the passage into the piston chamber 21. The pressure of the fluid in the chamber 21 on the face of the piston head 29, since flow of fiuid from the chamber through conduit 19 is blocked by the valve 8|, forces the piston 25 to the left (Fig. 2), and the teeth on the rack 26 consequently drive the shaft l5 clockwise. During movement of the piston 25 to the left, the arm 32a of the saddle engages the lip 46a of the flat spring 46 and bends the spring, as suggested by broken lines in Fig. 5, causing a turning moment to be applied to the cylinder 40.

The turning moment increases uniformly with increased displacement of the piston 25 and is yieldably opposed and restrained by the ball 58a in the groove 62. When the moment exerted by the spring 46 increases to a predetermined value depending upon the adjusted position of the spring supporting screw 65, the plunger 58 moves outwardly against the bias of the spring 6| to enable the ball 58a to move out of the groove 62. The position of the spring 46 just rior to rotation of the yalvecylinder would ordinarily be zapproximately that indicated by the broken iine zin Fig. 5. .Ifherestraining force of the .ball 58wwhi1 in the .groove 162 101 groove 16:4 prevents any tendencyrfor the: valve cylinder 41! to :rock while thexspring: 46 :is being deflected preparatory to performing itsisnap. action operation. At :the fin stant of disengagement of the ball 156a and the groove 62,1 the waive cylinder 1 4 0 ,turns and :is forcedzhy the spring 612 intoxthegroove: 64 tohold the. cylinder in its turnediposition with the ports 56 and .55 opening into the valve chambers 15] and;52,1respectively.

rimamw flows from 17136901711 .56 intozthe. chamber s5|-and therefrom throug-hithe port. and

the. passage 1 l ll into ,the piston chamber :23, High pressurerfluid inithechamber 23 forms the Piston 25 to (the right to 132E681, :counterclockwise 'Fig. 2') rotation ofthesshaft I35 andgradual reversesben-ding of the spring 46 by engagement ofthesaddie armtflz'btandzthelip 46a-of the spring 46. The spring '46nowexerts1a i raduallyiincreasingzturning moment .on the cylinder 40, which, at .a predetermined point in thetra-vel of the piston forces fizhezcylinder i liltowreturn to its initialzposi: tion "with .a snap .action caused :by "the ,yieldable restraintzof the "ball $5811. in. the igroovefifl.

, Movement-cfthe :piston 25 ;.to the leftforces fluidrfrom ithe pistonehamber. 23 .throughthe pas sage if! D, the .port 1119, the valve chamber L5| and the .port55 into a the interior of the body H; and movement of'theapiston =25 to the right :forces fluid .f-rom lthe piston ichamber 12] through the passage '1'], thezport fimthe valve.,chamber 52 -and thezport t55 zintmthelinteriorof thelbody Excess fluid within the body flows through the passage M to the discharge port 15.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that if the adjusting screw 65 is turned farther into the bore 59 to increase the compression of the spring 6|, the ball 58a retards the turning movement of the cylinder 4|] until the piston 25 has moved farther in either direction from a central position, whereas if the compression of the spring 6| is reduced, a shorter stroke of the piston 25 results. There is thus provided a simple means accessible from the outside of the body and providing for adjustment of the piston stroke and consequent movement of the wiper drive arm Normal operation of the motor is arrested by turning the valve 8| into the parking position indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2. Fluid from the conduit is now blocked from flowing into the conduit 82, but flows instead through the conduit 19 and the coupling 18 into the piston chamber 21 forcing the piston 25 to the left. When the piston 25 reaches the extreme left hand position, the Wiper drive arm I6 is parked in a predetermined position pending return of the valve 8| to its initial position. Assuming, for example, that, at the time the valve 8| was turned to the broken line position, the valve cylinder 40 7 29 so long as the valve 8i remains in the park ing position. 1 i "It should be noted that, with the pistonin the parked-position, the piston 25'has travelled beyond'the length of its normal maximum stroke, the piston head 28 being indirect engagement with the inner face of the-plug -2I.' Therefore, assuming the parking valve 8| is turned to parks ingposition while the motor piston25 is moving toward theleft and onlyto' the left as shown in Fig-2, :a wiper blade attached to the wiper drive arm l6 is parked slightly beyond the usual maximum area of clear vision. The kinetic force of the fluid against the piston 25 holds the-wiper blade in its parked position with a force sufli cientto resist the force of high slip stream. The coupling 18 and'the plug it may be interchanged, as desired, so that the wiper drive arm 1-6 may be parked on either side of its normal working area, as desired. 1

- Referring to Fig. 8, there is illustrated a modified saddlestructur'e providing means for adjustingthe extent. of Wiper blade travel in additionto that effected by change in the compression of the spring GI, and which also permits for. adjustably causing the extent of wiper blade travel on opposite sides ofthe. center line to be unequal in addition to the usual adjustment provided by the splined connection between the shaft l5 and the Wiper'drive arm 16. 'The saddle of Figs. 2 to 7 I may :be replaced, preferably in motors of larger size, by a saddle 84- having side flanges 85 and 86 cut off at the top as at 88 to provide clearance for a pair of overlapping L-shaped trip members 89 and 90 having co-aligned slots 9| and 92, respectively.- 1 I The bight portionof. the saddle 84 is preferably thick. enough to receiveinia threaded socket therein a'screw 94- passing through thelslots 9| and 92 to hold the trip members '89 and-99in adjusted position. x i I: v

The members 89 and 98 have rearwardlyrpros jecting' arms 95 and 96; respectively, vbetween which. the lip 46a of the spring may be -'dis p0sed;:=-The arms 95 and 96 thus function asthe arms. 32a and 32b of the saddle 30,:BymoVing the members 89 and 99 inwardly toward the ceni terof the saddle 84, the stroke of the piston*25 may be shortened, and, by movin'gthevmembers 89 and 99 outwardly, the piston stroke may be lengthened. Furthermore, by'causing the" arms 95 and 96 tobe at unequal distances from the center of the saddle 84 movement of the piston 25 and the Wiper drive arm l6 maybe caused-to be unequal on opposite sides of thecenterline' of the motor. r a

Iclaim:

In a hydraulic motor; a reciprocating piston; a reversible valve system-operated through a snap action mechanism bythe piston, a supply line :for fluid, a valve :arranged to' divert -,the"supplied fluid into one of two paths selectively, and conduitmeans constituting said paths and leading;

respectively, from the valve to said valvesystem and directly to the piston working space, said 7 valve system including means for exhausting fluid from the piston working space so long as fluid is supplied directly to said working space but through a relatively restricted passage; whereby the piston is. kinetically. held at one end of its stroke.

coLuMBus R. SACCHINILI'. 

